BEES0010
Australian Environment, Wildlife
and Conservation
Global Education
Global Networks
Global Opportunities
UNSW Study Abroad
Summer School 2012
15 June - 19 July
UNSW Study Abroad
The University of New South Wales
Sydney NSW 2052 Australia
Phone: Fax: Email: +61 2 9385 3179
+61 2 9385 1265
studyabroad@unsw.edu.au
CRICOS Provider No. 00098G
Contents
Course Syllabus
Australian Environment, Wildlife and Conservation
Course Objectives
Assessment
Textbooks
2 2 3 3 4 Course Information
Location
Program length
Program fee
4 4 4 4 Summary of Course Itinerary
Darwin and Kakadu
Blue Mountains
Sydney
Cairns and the Daintree
6 6 7 7 8 Cultural and Social Activities
Contact Details
10 11 Course Syllabus
Course Syllabus
Australian Environment, Wildlife and Conservation
Course Code: BEES 0010
The University of New South Wales presents a practical and theoretical introduction
to ‘Australian Environment, Wildlife and Conservation’.
From its rainforests, coastlines and coral reefs to its arid interior, Australia offers a
diverse range of natural and cultural landscapes and ecosystems to explore. Evolving
from origins in ancient Gondwana and millions of years of geographic isolation,
Australia boasts geographical and natural features found nowhere else in the world.
This program provides a unique opportunity to consider human impacts on the
natural environment, and measures to address these impacts, focusing particularly on
protected conservation areas. Australia provides a valuable and unique case study in
this regard. The course is contextualised within the global ecological crisis and
considers the development of environmental values and awareness and describes
environmental controversies and how they are addressed. In consideration of these
issues, Australia’s unique flora and fauna are examined and the various climatically
varied regions visited are highlighted throughout the course.
The program outlines and exposes students to the challenges in managing natural
and cultural heritage in the 21st century. There is a strong emphasis on Aboriginal
perspectives of the Australian landscape and its importance to this ancient culture.
The program will familiarise participants with the spiritual and ecological ties of
Aboriginal culture with the landscape and how this is incorporated in management of
national parks.
This course is an introductory level science course, which is also relevant for broader
environmental and cultural studies programs. It assumes no, or very little previous
tertiary-level biological science, however, biology students would have the opportunity
to expand their knowledge, particularly in practical application of biological science,
and in environmental management. Care has been taken to secure experienced
guides and speakers for the delivery of this course to ensure a first-class educational
and cultural experience.
Australian Environment, Wildlife and Conservation
page 2
Course Syllabus
Course Objectives
The course provides a range of learning experiences designed to:
1.
Experience diverse landscape types existing in Australia, including:
§
§
§
§
Wet/Dry tropics: Northern Territory Wildlife Park, Kakadu National Park;
Coastal temperate: Sydney Harbour National Park, Blue Mountains National
Park;
Tropical rainforest: Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation, Cairns;
Marine: Green Island, Great Barrier Reef (Cairns).
2.
Provide insight into the geological development of Australia and how this has
influenced the evolution of Australia’s unique flora and fauna.
3.
Introduce some of the unique flora and fauna of Australia through direct
experience with key examples.
4.
Develop an appreciation of Indigenous culture in the Australian landscape.
5.
Present Australian ecosystem conservation as a case study within the context of
the global ecological crisis.
6.
Introduce natural and cultural heritage conservation management principles,
practices, legislation and issues.
7.
Develop an appreciation of the influence of cultural issues in the management
of wildlife and conservation in Australia.
8.
Provide a framework for co-management of protected areas involving
traditional owners and conservation management agencies.
Assessment
Field notebook
30%
Written short reports
20%
Group presentation
Final exam
20%
20%
Participation
10%
(These assessments are subject to change)
As this is a course of the University of New South Wales, assessments will be marked in
accordance with the Australian marking scheme:
Fail
<50%
Pass
50-64%
Credit
65-74%
Distinction
75-84%
High Distinction
>85%
An international grade equivalence sheet will accompany the official UNSW transcript
when mailed to the student following completion of the program.
Australian Environment, Wildlife and Conservation
page 3
Course Information
Textbooks
The following textbooks will be provided to students on arrival in Australia and lent
free of charge for the duration of the program. If they wish, students will be able to
buy the texts from UNSW Study Abroad at a reduced cost on completion of the
program.
Lindenmayer D. & M. Burgman (2005). Practical Conservation Biology. CSIRO
Publishing, Melbourne, Australia.
Goodfellow, Denise. (1993) Fauna of Kakadu and the Top End, Colemans Printing
Course Information
The ‘Australian Environment, Wildlife and Conservation’ program is one of six
programs that make up the UNSW Study Abroad Summer School in 2012. Each
program has approximately 20-30 participants and all travel a similar itinerary within
Australia, with a course-specific field trip in week one, three and five. Generally, all
groups will be staying at the same destination at approximately the same time;
however, programs will break up into their individual groups for classes and field
excursions.
Location
The ‘Wildlife’ course starts in Darwin, at the ‘Top End’ of Australia, including a threeday camping expedition to the World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park to
experience its spectacular scenery and its distinctive plants and animals. From Darwin,
the program journeys to the Blue Mountains, Australia’s most visited World Heritagelisted National Park. Three days will be spent exploring the ancient and dramatic
landforms of the region.
Students will then be based at UNSW, located 20 minutes from downtown Sydney for
two weeks. A number of fieldtrips to various locations will be included in this section.
The course will then move to the tropical far-north of Australia with a stay in the
Daintree Rainforest, the only place in the world where reef meets rainforest. The
program concludes in Cairns, where students have the opportunity to explore the
Great Barrier Reef.
Program length
The course consists of 75 hours of class contact time over five weeks comprising field
trips, lectures and presentations. The program is valued at 6 units of credit at UNSW;
international equivalent of 6 or 8 units of credit each, subject to home institution
policy.
Program fee
The program fee includes:
•
•
•
•
tuition
all accommodation
all meals in Kakadu National Park and in the Daintree Rainforest
breakfast and lunch in the Blue Mountains
Australian Environment, Wildlife and Conservation
page 4
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
breakfast and lunch in Sydney
breakfast and a final program dinner in Cairns
all excursion travel and entry fees
orientation program and airport shuttle services
Internet device
UNSW student card (allowing access to all UNSW facilities).
Other meals and airfares are not included in the program fee.
Australian Environment, Wildlife and Conservation
page 5
Summary of Course Itinerary
Summary of Course Itinerary
Darwin and Kakadu
Date
Time
Activity
Wednesday 13 June
11.20pm
Depart Los Angeles on QF 16 to Brisbane
Friday 15 June
6.10am
Arrive Brisbane
Transfer to Brisbane Domestic Airport
9.15am
Depart Brisbane on QF 824 to Darwin
12.55 pm
Arrive Darwin
Met at Darwin International Airport by UNSW Summer School
staff and taken to accommodation
Staying at:
Melaleuca on Mitchell Backpacker
52 Mitchell St
Darwin, NT 0801 Australia
Ph: +61 8 8941 7800
Fax: + 61 8 8941 7900
http://www.momdarwin.com/
Saturday 16 June
3.00pm – 4.00pm
Collect course materials
4.30pm - 6.00pm
Orientation and introduction of academic staff
6.00pm - 7.30pm
Welcome Reception
9.00am - 12.00pm
Introduction to the course
Presentation: Gondwana - the biophysical making of Australia
Presentation: Australian landscapes of today
Intro to Kakadu NP (dry camp)
Sunday 17 JuneTuesday 19 June
All Day
3-Day Field Trip to Kakadu National Park
Wednesday 20 June
9.00am - 12.00pm
Kakadu Debrief
Presentation: Taming the Great South Land – a socio-historical
perspective
Presentation: Protected area management - natural & cultural
heritage
Case study: Native mammals as pets
Presentation: Impacts of climate change and fire on Australian
ecosystems
Thursday 21 June
8.30am - 5.00pm
Friday 22 June
9.00am - 12.00pm
Field Visit - Northern Territory Wildlife Park
Class exercise: Park management scenario
Saturday 23 June
9.00am - 12.00pm
Presentation: Conservation definitions and metaphors
Presentation: Wildlife management in the Northern Territory
(NT Parks & Wildlife Commission)
Introduction to the Blue Mountains
1.00pm - 4.00pm
Australian Environment, Wildlife and Conservation
Visit Northern Territory Museum and Botanic Gardens
page 6
Summary of Course Itinerary
Blue Mountains
Date
Time
Activity
Sunday 24 June
7.30am
Depart Darwin for Sydney on flight QF5074
12.20pm
Arrive Sydney, take bus to Blue Mountains (2hours)
4.00pm
Settle into accommodation
Blue Mountains YHA
207 Katoomba St
Katoomba, NSW 2780
Monday 25 June
Tuesday 26 June
Wednesday 27 June
9.00am – 10.30am
Gundungurra Welcome to Country
11.30am - 3.30pm
Guided walk at National Pass, Wentworth Falls (includes lunch)
9.00am - 3.30pm
Bushwalk - Grand Canyon and Field exercise
4.30pm - 6.00pm
Visit native mammal captive breeding centre, Secret Creek,
Lithgow
9.00-11.00am
Indigenous cultural talk and walk - Echo Point to Katoomba
kiosk
11.00am- 1.00pm
Management of fire and introduced species (National Parks
ranger)
1.00-2.00pm
Lunch
2.00pm
Bus to Sydney
Sydney
Thursday 28 June
9.00am - 12.00pm
Blue Mountains debrief
Presentation: Conservation and the global state of the
environment
Friday 29 June
9.00am - 12.00pm
Presentations:
Ecology & Management of Australian Arid Ecosystems and
coastal temperate ecosystems
Landscape conservation
Saturday 30 June –
Sunday 1 July
Monday 2 July
Free Days
9.00am - 12.00pm
Presentation: A history of acclimatisation and introduced species
in Australia
Managing introduced species – case studies include cane toads
and feral horses
The Australian Dingo – a conservation management dilemma
Tuesday 3 July
Wednesday 4 July –
9.00am - 12.00pm
Threatened species conservation - including reptiles
1.00pm - 5.00pm
Field Trip: Botany Bay National Park
9.00am - 12.00pm
Presentations: Managing Conservation Issues in Sydney Harbour
& Botany Bay
Australian Environment, Wildlife and Conservation
page 7
Summary of Course Itinerary
Thursday 5 July
Friday 6 July
9.00am - 12.00pm
Presentations: Wildlife population management – case studies
include kangaroos and wetland birds
1.00pm - 5.00pm
Excursion: TBA
9.00am - 12.00pm
Presentations: Wildlife conservation through sustainable use
Saturday 7 to Sunday 8
July
Free Days
Monday 9 July
9.00am - 12.00pm
Course review and discussion
Tuesday 10 July
9.00am - 12.00pm
Student group presentations
Wednesday 11 July
9.00am - 12.00pm
Student group presentations
Cairns and the Daintree
Date
Time
Activity
Thursday 12 July
9.15am
Depart Sydney QF924
12.25pm
Arrive Cairns
Bus transfer to Daintree Rainforest
Accommodation at:
PK’s Jungle Village
Cape Tribulation Rd
Cape Tribulation Qld 4873
Phone: +61 7 4098 0040
Fax: +61 7 4098 0055
http://www.pksjunglevillage.com.au/
Kuku Yalanji guided walk en route to Mossman Gorge
Friday 13 July
Saturday 14 July
9.30am – 11.30am
Walk/talk/Lecture: Rainforest Ecosystems
PM
Night walk
Morning
Daintree Discovery Centre visit
Guided rainforest walk
Bus transfer to Cairns
3.00pm
Bus transfer to Cairns
Accommodation at:
Rydges Esplanade Resort
Cnr The Esplanade and Kerwin Street,
Cairns Queensland 4870
Phone: +61 7 4044 9000
Fax: +61 7 4044 9001
http://www.rydges.com/hotel/0/RQESPL/Rydges-EsplanadeResort-Cairns.htm
Sunday 15 July
9.00am - 12.00pm
Lecture: Introduction to Australian Marine Park
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
Monday 16 July
9.00am - 12.00pm
Final Exam
Final Program dinner
Australian Environment, Wildlife and Conservation
page 8
Summary of Course Itinerary
Tuesday 17 July to
Wednesday 18 July
End of academic program
Relax in Cairns
Optional trips to Great Barrier Reef diving/snorkelling, white
water rafting, bungy jumping and skydiving.
Thursday 19 July
6.20am
Depart Cairns on QF 921 to Sydney (ETA 9.20am)
1.05pm
Depart Sydney on QF 11 for Los Angeles
(ETA 9.45am, 19 July)
Note:
Both this itinerary and accommodation are subject to change
Australian Environment, Wildlife and Conservation
page 9
Cultural and Social Activities
Cultural and Social Activities
During your stay in Australia, UNSW Study Abroad will be coordinating a range of
cultural and social activities for you to do in your free time. These are optional.
UNSW Study Abroad offers all activities at cost price. Students will be given the
opportunity to sign up for these activities upon arrival in Darwin and again in Cairns.
Below is a list of some of the activities that may be offered. Prices are given in
Australian dollars (US$1.05 = A$1.00 - September 2011) and are based on 2011 prices,
so are subject to change.
Darwin
Sailing on the harbour afternoon
$60 - $80
Cinema evening
$12
Fish feeding
$10
Cairns
Day on the Great Barrier Reef
$165
White water rafting day
$140
Day trip to the Daintree Rainforest
$110
Skydiving
$270 - $300
Bungy Jumping
$100
Sydney
Blue Mountains Day Trip
$99
Two-hour “Learn to Surf” lesson at Bondi Beach
$55
Ticket to a Rugby League game
$16
Ticket to an Australian Rules game
$22
Symphony at the Sydney Opera House
$40 - $65
Opera at the Sydney Opera House
$80 - $95
A play/musical in Sydney
$40
Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb
$200 - $300
Wine Tasting trip to the Hunter Valley
$99
Overnight stay at Taronga Zoo on Sydney Harbour
$150
Australian Environment, Wildlife and Conservation
page 10
Contact Details
Contact Details
Program Convenors
The program convenors for the UNSW Study Abroad Summer School are Clare
Mander, Tom Küffer and Nick Dowd. They can be contacted on:
Clare Mander
Program Coordinator
UNSW Study Abroad Summer School
Ph: +61 2 9385 1656 /mobile 0415 033 101
Email: c.mander@unsw.edu.au
Tom Küffer
Program Coordinator
UNSW Study Abroad Summer School
Ph: +61 2 9385 3178 /mobile 0412 894 282
Email: t.kuffer@unsw.edu.au
Nick Dowd
Senior Short Course Manager
UNSW Study Abroad Summer School
Ph: +61 2 9385 1445 / mobile 0414 262 214
Email: n.dowd@unsw.edu.au
Fax: +61 2 9385 1265
Contacting Students
At any time during the program students can be reached by mail at the following
address:
Student's Name
c/o UNSW Study Abroad Summer School
UNSW Study Abroad Office
Level 16, Mathews Building
The University of New South Wales
Sydney NSW 2052
Australia
Messages can also be left for students using the contact details above for Clare or Tom.
Hotel/hostel contact details appear in the Course Itinerary section of this pack. They are
however, subject to change.
Australian Environment, Wildlife and Conservation
page 11
BEES0010
Australian Environment, Wildlife
and Conservation
Global Education
Global Networks
Global Opportunities
UNSW Study Abroad
Summer School 2012
15 June - 19 July
UNSW Study Abroad
The University of New South Wales
Sydney NSW 2052 Australia
Phone: Fax: Email: +61 2 9385 3179
+61 2 9385 1265
studyabroad@unsw.edu.au
CRICOS Provider No. 00098G
Contents
Travel Arrangements
Flight Bookings
2 Insurance
3 US Passport and Australian Visa Information
4 Post Program Options
4 Checklist
4 General Information
5 Weather: 'Summer School' during the winter
5 Accommodation
5 Eating and drinking
6 Getting around
7 Service Facilities
8 Accessing and changing your money
8 Phones and phone cards
8 Computers
Gymnasiums
8 9 Useful websites
9 Packing List - What to bring?
Luggage: What to put it all in…
Contact Details
Travel Arrangements
2 10 10 11 Travel Arrangements
Travel Arrangements
Flight Bookings
Recommended Travel Agent
The University of New South Wales (UNSW) has made arrangements with STA
Travel, the worlds leading student travel company to reserve seats and provide
discounted pricing to students from the US participating in the UNSW Study Abroad
Summer programs. You are under no obligation to use this service, and may book
your travel with any agency you wish. However, if making your own bookings you
should ensure that you book your internal Australian flights to mirror the following
itinerary for the program:
Flight Itinerary
QF 16
13 June
LAX/BNE
2320/0620+2
QF 824
15 June
BNE/DRW
0915/1255
QF 5074
24 June
DRW/SYD
0730/1220
BY BUS
24 June
SYD/BLUE
MOUNTAINS
BY BUS
27 June
BLUE
MOUNTAINS/SYD
QF 924
12 July
SYD/CNS
0915/1225
QF 921
19 July
CNS/SYD
0620/0920
QF 11
19 July
SYD/LAX
1305/0945
Airline Ticket Price
The price for the complete package itinerary ex-Los Angeles is US$1619.00 plus fuel
surcharges and taxes. These additional taxes and charges fluctuate and are subject to
change. STA Travel will advise you of the exact amount at the time of booking.
If your journey originates from a city other than Los Angeles, you will need to
organise a connecting flight. Please remember to mention this to your STA Travel
advisor who will arrange for a competitively priced ticket for you.
Options are available for you to break your journey returning from Australia in Fiji,
Hawaii or New Zealand. This incurs and additional cost, so please remember to ask
your STA Travel Advisor about the stopover packages.
Cancellation Policy
The STA travel cancellation policy states that ‘individual flight ticket cancellations
after full payment has been received and ticketing completed will incur a
cancellation fee of A$300’. Before departure, no date or destination changes are
permitted. After departure, date changes are subject to an amendment fee of A$50.
If you reroute your ticket you will be charged a fee of $75 plus fare difference. Both
are subject to availability with Qantas. Taxes and fuel surcharges in effect the day
Australian Environment, Wildlife and Conservation
page 2
Travel Arrangements
tickets are issued will apply and must be paid. If using your own travel provider,
please check their cancellation policy.
How to Book
STA Travel has a team of people ready to assist you in booking your package:
•
Log onto http://b2b.statravel.com/unsw.html and select your specific
program from the list - Australian Environment, Wildlife and Conservation
•
Complete the form with all required information, including the payment
details – all major credit cards are accepted.
•
STA Travel will attempt to contact you within 24 hours to confirm the flights
you have requested and book your connecting flights, if required.
Should you wish to speak to an STA Travel advisor, a FREE CALL number is available
for UNSW Study Abroad participants.
1-800-632-4365
(Monday to Friday 9am - 9pm Eastern Standard Time)
We recommend that you make the reservations as soon as possible. The deadline to
sign up is 10th April 2012.
ISIC Card
You may require an International Student Identity Card (ISIC). This will provide you
with some discounts throughout Australia, as well as at home in the USA. Your card is
valid for a full year from the date it is issued. Your card should be purchased at the
same time as your flights, please ask your STA Travel advisor when booking. The cost
of the ISIC card is $22.
Baggage Allowance
The international baggage allowance on your flights is 2 pieces of luggage - each
piece should weigh no more than 50 pounds each.
Rules vary for connecting domestic flights however, the 50-pound weight allowance
will apply (ensure that you indicate that you have an international ticket if there are
problems). Please seek clarification from your STA Travel advisor at the time of
booking.
Australian Arrival / Airport Pick-up
A representative from UNSW Study Abroad will meet all students arriving on the
Qantas flights booked through STA Travel at the Darwin International Airport.
Students booking on other flights should advise UNSW Study Abroad of their arrival
details so that pick up can be arranged.
Insurance
Fully comprehensive travel insurance is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED and should be
purchased at the same time as your flight package. The costs of policies differ, so
please ask your STA Travel advisor to assist you.
Australian Environment, Wildlife and Conservation
page 3
Note: UNSW Study Abroad highly recommends that you take out travel insurance,
particularly relating to any medical, baggage and trip cancellation claims.
US Passport and Australian Visa Information
All US citizens require a passport and visa to enter Australia. The length of the
summer programs (five weeks) allows US students to enter Australia as tourists. A
Student Visa is not required. Therefore, US citizens (and Canadians) travelling to
Australia do not require a visa stamped in their passport when their intended stay is
less than three months. Australian Immigration officials have authorised travel
agents and airlines in the US to issue an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA), which is
an electronic visa allowing you entry into Australia. STA Travel will automatically
issue your ETA when your flight arrangements are confirmed, provided you have
completed all the personal information requested on their Travel Reservation Form.
There is no application fee and no contact with the Australian Embassy in the US is
required.
Remember!
Renew your passport early
You do not need a student visa - ask for an electronic tourist visa.
Label your luggage clearly
Keep your luggage to one large suitcase plus a carry on bag
Post Program Options
Should you wish to change your return flights and extend your stay in Australia
(provided no change to the routing is made), then a change fee of only $50 is
applicable (subject to flight availability).
Should you wish to reroute your ticket through New Zealand, Fiji and Hawaii, this is
normally available for an additional fee (subject to availability). Your STA Travel
advisor will also have some ‘on location’ travel options for you at these destinations.
Checklist
•
•
•
•
•
Complete your webform on http://b2b.statravel.com/unsw.html
Book your connecting flight to Los Angeles
Purchase your ISIC card
Remember to look into insurance for your journey
Make sure you have a valid passport and remember to ask for an electronic visa.
Australian Environment, Wildlife and Conservation
page 4
General Information
General Information
Weather: 'Summer School' during the winter
You will realise that you'll be spending your Summer School in the southern
hemisphere winter. However, our program is tailored to ensure that you will spend
half of your stay in Australia in our warmest regions during your travels.
In Darwin and Kakadu the temperature will be approximately
800F to 900F in the daytime
650F to 700F in the evenings.
The Blue Mountains will experience temperatures as low as 350F to 400F.
A Sydney winter will normally have 550F to 700F days and 450F to 500F overnight
(please pack accordingly)
In the Daintree and Cairns, the daytime temperature will be very pleasant at
approximately 750F, however, there can be a cool breeze in the evenings.
It is advisable to bring clothing that can be layered to cater for the range of climates
experienced during the program. You will also need a warm jacket for the cooler
destinations.
Note: Accommodation in Australia may not be heated as effectively as you are used to in
the Northern hemisphere. Sydney dorms may be cold at times.
Accommodation
When visiting destinations other than Sydney, the standard of accommodation will
vary from shared, budget-style hotel and hostel (bunks) accommodation to twin
share hotel rooms.
In Darwin, students will stay in the centre of Darwin in a large backpackers hostel.
There will be from four to six in dorm rooms, with a spacious deck and pool area
where students can relax and study. Wireless Internet is available in these shared
areas. While it is very clean, students will venture out of their rooms to use the
communal bathroom and showers.
Students will be camping in tents during the three-day trip to Kakadu National Park.
All meals are catered for here. It is recommended that you bring a medium-weight
sleeping bag, a flashlight and snacks.
In Blue Mountains students will stay in a youth hostel in Katoomba, in shared rooms.
In Sydney, students will be accommodated in single rooms in a residential college
(dorms) on The University of New South Wales (UNSW) campus. The residencial
college has a non-alcohol policy on its premises to which students will be required to
adhere.
The program finishes in Cairns, where students will be accommodated in the lovely
Rydges Esplanade hotel, five minutes from the centre of Cairns. Students will be in
twin or triple share hotel rooms with a full buffet breakfast provided.
Bedding will be supplied at all locations, and students will have access to laundry
facilities (at their own expense) at all locations.
Australian Environment, Wildlife and Conservation
page 5
General Information
Eating and drinking
Some meals are included in the program fee, however, for other meals you will need
to dine out or get a take-away.
Program fee
The program fee includes:
•
•
•
•
•
all meals in Kakadu National Park
breakfasts and lunches in the Blue Mountains
breakfasts and lunches in Sydney
all meals in the Daintree
breakfasts in Cairns and a final program dinner
In Darwin, you will be housed in a hostel in the city of Darwin. Supermarkets, cafés
and restaurants are abundant, so you will have the opportunity to buy supplies and
prepare some meals for yourselves – or eat out. Cheap meals are available at the
Mindil Beach Asian food stalls (Sundays and Thursdays), approximately A$10 per
serve; while dining out at restaurants can cost approx A$20-$30 for a main course. A
large kitchen is available to enable self-catering for all groups.
In Sydney hot breakfasts and lunches will be provided at the dormitory cafeteria. A
range of inexpensive options is available locally to cater for the evening meal. It is
possible to get a meal for less than A$15 at a number of cheap eating locations in the
Coogee Beach/Randwick/Kingsford area near UNSW. All types of cuisines are
available so you will have the opportunity to try everything from Thai to Indian to
Lebanese. Of course, dining out at the many upmarket restaurants can cost A$20A$30 for main courses.
In Cairns a full buffet breakfast is included in the program. Cairns caters to a tourist
clientele all year round, therefore, though there are many takeaway outlets and cafes,
as well as Asian food courts, these types of meals generally cost the same as in major
cities. Similarly, a main course in one of the many seafood restaurants along the
Esplanade can cost A$35.
Australians tip modestly (between 5% and 10% of the meal cost), though you are
under no obligation to tip at all. Waiters and waitresses do not depend on tips for
their wage.
BUDGET:
Allow $800-$1000 for food if you utilize the food markets, prepare your own
lunches and eat at cheap restaurants
Allow $1200-$1600 if you prefer to eat out for all meals
Australian Environment, Wildlife and Conservation
page 6
Some typical prices for items in Australia
All prices are in Australian dollars and are subject to change. US$1.05 is buying
approximately $1.00 Australian dollars (September 2011)
Item
Estimated cost
Notebooks
$3.00
Batteries (4 x AA)
$10.00
Sunscreen (250ml)
$14.00
Disposable razors (pkt 10)
$10.00
Newspaper
$1.20
Pre-paid phone cards
$10.00 -$20.00
Movies
$16.00 ($11 on Tuesdays)
Big Mac
$4.60
Cappuccino
$3.50
Soft drink
$3.00
Potato chips
$2.50
Chocolate bar
$2.00
Getting around
Darwin and Cairns have very small city centres that can be covered easily on foot. In
Sydney, however, there is an extensive network of trains, buses and ferries to get you
to everywhere you would like to visit.
UNSW is served by many buses and the cheapest way to travel on these is by using the
MyBus TravelTen or Weekly bus passes which can be purchased from on-campus
shops, selected newsagents, bus depots and railway stations.
§
MyBus TravelTen tickets allow 10 trips with no time limit. The MyBus 2 used for
the distance between the campus and the city centre costs $26.40 (saves 20% on
each single fare); the MyBus 1 for local journeys around the campus, and to
Coogee Beach, costs $16.00.
§
MyMulti DayPass or Weekly allow unlimited travel with buses, trains and ferries
around the inner city a day, costs $20.00 (DayPass) or $41.00 - $48.00 (Weekly)
Taxis are numerous and reasonably inexpensive, especially if shared between a few
people. There is a standard flag fall fee and then a charge per kilometer (cost
approximately $8 to Coogee from the campus and approximately $22 (depending on
the traffic) to the city centre.
Australian Environment, Wildlife and Conservation
page 7
Service Facilities
Service Facilities
Accessing and changing your money
All major credit cards are accepted in Australia, Visa and MasterCard being more
widely accepted than American Express. Depositing the funds you wish to access
onto your credit cards before departing is a good way to avoid cash advance charges
and give you easy access to money within Australia. Cirrus, Maestro and Plus systems
exist in Australia. A pin number attached to your credit or debit card allows you to
withdraw money at any ATM within Australia.
You MUST have access to a credit card to book activities and social events
during your stay.
Money changing facilities are located in the Brisbane, Sydney and Darwin airport
terminals. You should have at least A$50 upon arrival in Darwin to cover immediate
expenses. On weekdays, banks are generally open between 9.30am and 4.00pm.
Banks are not open in Australia on weekends, but you will have 24-hour access to
ATMs. While Travellers Checks are safe, it can be time-consuming and inconvenient
to change them.
Tips: Make sure you have at least TWO cards to draw money from, and keep these
separate at all times. Carry your banks emergency contact numbers with you and
keep photocopies of your bankcards and passport.
Phones and phone cards
Many students arrange for their own cell phones to have International roaming
access while they are away. However, network coverage may not be available in
remote locations.
Phone cards, which enable inexpensive calls back home, are readily available from
many shops in Australia. It is best to wait until you arrive in Australia to buy a card
that allows for international outbound calls.
Computers
It is highly recommended that students bring their personal laptop computer. UNSW
Study Abroad will supply a USB modem that will allow students to access the Internet
on their personal laptops wherever there is phone coverage during the five-week
period. If students wish to use more data than that allotted by UNSW, they may
purchase this at their own expense.
Printing at all locations other than Sydney will be at personal cost to the student.
Students can print for free in the UNSW Study Abroad lounge during their stay in
Sydney.
Australian Environment, Wildlife and Conservation
page 8
For students that do not bring a laptop:
§ In Darwin there are a number of Internet cafes around the city centre that can be
accessed (at personal expense).
§ In Sydney, the residential college has outlets for personal laptops in each dorm
room. Payment for this service (UniWeb) is made through the IT Services Desk at
the UNSW Library (4.4 cents per Mb downloaded/uploaded). You also will have
to the UNSW Study Abroad Student Lounge within business hours (8.30am –
5.30pm Mondays to Fridays).
§ In Cairns, the accommodation has a business centre that students can utilise for
approximately A$6 per hour (i.e. covering stop and start usage to a total of one
hour).
Gymnasiums
Students will be able to visit a gym at most locations for discounted rates that have
been arranged by UNSW Study Abroad.
Useful websites
Darwin:
www.tourismtopend.com.au
Sydney:
www.sydney.com.au and www.sydney.citysearch.com.au
Cairns:
www.tropicalaustralia.com.au
Australian Environment, Wildlife and Conservation
page 9
Packing List - What to bring?
Packing List - What to bring?
Suggestions for the items you should bring with you.
Personal items
Clothing
Equipment
Medium weight sleeping bag (highly
recommended)
T-shirts, shorts, jeans
Laptop computer (highly recommended)
Sweatshirts/sweaters
Battery operated alarm clock
Swimming costume
Camera
Underwear, socks
Binoculars (optional)
Any prescribed medication you require
Jacket (very warm), raincoat
Underwater camera (optional)
A hat
One or two nice outfits (for warm
weather and cold weather) e.g. for a
night out at Sydney Opera House and
the Final Program Dinner in Cairns
Flashlight
Beach/bath towel
A photocopy of your passport stored
separately in your luggage
Sunscreen
Sunglasses
A small padlock
Pens / Small notebook
One pair of dress (nice) shoes to wear
out in the evening (Opera/Nightclub)
Insect repellent
Water bottle
A day pack
Rainwear/umbrella (just in case…)
Tevas / sandals / flip flops (however,
note flip flops are not allowed to be
worn in pubs and clubs)
A pair of sneakers
Hiking Boots (optional)
Luggage: What to put it all in…
Remember, you will be travelling extensively during the course of this program, so be
warned that whatever you bring YOU WILL HAVE TO CARRY! Students are
notorious for bringing far too much luggage - remember you are sure to accumulate
items during your stay as well.
It is best that students limit themselves to one large backpack or rolling suitcase –
plus an extra smaller bag would also be very useful for the camping trip into Kakadu
National Park, the short stay in the Blue Mountains, in the Daintree and for Sydney.
Note: We recommend that you do NOT bring electrical appliances- hairdryers ect, as the
standard voltage in Australia is 240V, you would need a voltage adaptor to operate 110V
appliances (A$80).
The electrical plugs used in Australia are typically 3 flat pins (one earth pin). You will
need to bring an adaptor plug with this pin configuration for your laptop or can purchase
one on arrival for approximately A$10.
Australian Environment, Wildlife and Conservation
page 10
Contact Details
Contact Details
Program Convenors
The program convenors for the UNSW Study Abroad Summer School are Clare
Mander, Tom Küffer and Nick Dowd. They can be contacted on:
Clare Mander
Program Coordinator
UNSW Study Abroad Summer School
Ph: +61 2 9385 1656 /mobile 0415 307 733
Email: c.mander@unsw.edu.au
Tom Küffer
Program Coordinator
UNSW Study Abroad Summer School
Ph: +61 2 9385 33178 /mobile 0412 894 282
Email: t.kuffer@unsw.edu.au
Nick Dowd
Senior Program Manager
UNSW Study Abroad Summer School
Ph: +61 2 9385 1445 /mobile 0414 262 214
Email: n.dowd@unsw.edu.au
Contacting Students
At any time during the program students can be reached by mail at the following
address:
Student's Name
c/o UNSW Study Abroad Summer School
UNSW Study Abroad Office
Level 16, Mathews Building
The University of New South Wales
Sydney NSW 2052
Australia
Messages can also be left for students using the contact details above for Clare or Tom
Australian Environment, Wildlife and Conservation
page 11